Safety razor



0. SPAHR Aug. 16, 1927.

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Jan. 28. 1926 //VVEIVTOR I Oi /0 Spa/2r Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES I 1,639,441 PATENT, OFFICE.

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In the commonly used type of safety razor, the axis of the handle extends at right angle to the longitudinal direction of extension of the blade. The natural and most 5 convenient modeof operating such a razor is to pull it across the surface of the face in a user experiences more or less discomfort.

Consequently theuser is advised to hold the handle at such an angle to the intended di-' rection of movement of the blade that the cutting edge will be moved across the face in a direction at an oblique angle to the cutting edge. 'Such'a manipulation involves considerable skill and any awkwardness by the user involves danger of cutting the face. One of the objects of my invention is to so operation of the razor, that is, by pulling the handle in the most natural and convenient direction, which in the ordinary razor would effect a scraping action, the bladewill slide over the face in a direction at an obli ue angle to the cutting edge and thereby e ect a shearing, as distinguished from a scraping action, thereby operating the razor in its most efficient way, severing the hairs without pulling them, giving a clean shave, preserving the cutting edge, and avoiding discomfort.

Another object of the invention is to so hinge the razor-carrying frame to the handle that the handle ma be adjusted to any desired angle to the bla e, so that the axis of the handle will not only extend at an oblique angle to the lon itudinal direction of extension of the bla e, but maybe within the 4 plane of the longitudinal center line .of the blade or at an angle to such plane, as the user may prefer. V

Another ob 'ect of the invention is-to so hinge the handle to the blade that the handle may be so adjusted that its axis will extend at a right angle to the lon itudinal extension of the bladein order that in changing blades, the handle ma be conveniently unscrewed therefrom an screwed thereto.

Another object ofthe invention is to so pivot the handle on the blade-carrying frame position the handle that, by an unskillful' that when the handle is: moved :,to"'occupy either a perpendicular or any-desired oblique angle to the ..blade,"no other manipulation will berequ red to maintain it in the adusted pos1t1on, -but it ,;will automatically maintain itself in that position until the,

proper force is applied in a proper way to adyust it to a different position.

In the drawings, which show a preferred;

embodiment of the invention: a

Fig.r1 is an elevation of the razor with the handle adjusted at an oblique angle to the gingitudinal direction of extension of the Fig. 2 is a view at a right angle to Fig. 1

with the handle extending at a right angle to the blade the blade-holding frame and the, arm connecting the handle and frame being shown in cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the blade-holding frame and arm connecting thehandle and frame shown incross-section.

Fig. 4 1s a diagram showing the position of the blade and its direction of movement relatively to the hairs in operation.

' Base at is provided with the usual notched or serrated longitudinal edges having guards b for the blade edges. The clamp c is provided with the ositioning ins d, and with -f a central threa ed post e, t e pins and post extending through orifices in the base. The described base and clamp constitute a bladeholding and pbsitioning frame of common construction. The blade f is shown as con fined between the base and clamp.

The handle comprises a shank 9 having a contracted neck supporting a spherical shaped head It, the sphere being flattened on the face thereof most distant from the shank. The handle is connected tothe blade-holding frame by means of an arm i having a threaded hole in its upper end adapted to engage the post 6 and a downwardly openmg cylindrical cavity containing a flanged follower plate I: and a spring m. The wall of this cavity comprises a shell into which the spherical head it extends and the lower edges of which-are crimped slightl against the head so asto prevent the with rawal of handle is swung so that it extends ata right angle to the longitudinal direction of extension of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the parts, the spring m holds the plate 10 against the fiat face of the sphere It, so that the handle tends to maintain itself in this perpendicular position. Itis only in this position that it is possible by a mere turning movement of the handle on its own axis, to thread the arm z' on the post 6. Moreover, if the arm were in fixed relation to the handle and the handle occupied a permanent position of obliquity to the arm, it would not be possible to screw the arm 2' tightly against the base a with any assurance that, when so seated, the handle would extend in that one of the infinite number of possible oblique directions in which it is desired to have it extend in operation. However, with the described construction, after the arm z" is firmly screwed against the base a, the handle g, by the exercise of moderate force, may be moved, on its universal pivotal axis, into any desired position of obliquity to the blade f and at an oblique angle of any desired number of degrees within any possibly desirable limit. When the handle is so swung on its pivot, say into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the plate is will be forced further from the center of the sphere h, thereby further compressing the spring, which tends to hold the handle in the oblique position to which it is adjusted.

'When now the user operates the razor by pulling the handle in the direction in which it is most easy andnatural to pull it, the blade will at ever position extend across the face at an ang e to its direction of movement and cut the hairs with a shearing action, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

It is, of course, possible to efiect one of the purposes of the invention by positioning the arm 6 and handle 9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and securing them together in permanent relationship, which would be equivalent to providing the handle with a bent frameengaging end; but this would be an embodiment of the invention only in its broadest no means to adjust the handle at such angle to the frame ashe may refer.

Having now fully descri ed my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A safety razor comprising a frame for a blade, a handle for the frame, and a universal connection between the hand hold of the handle and frame including a spherical like head and a spring pressed element engaging the head for frictionally retaining the frame and handle in their adjusted positions, said head having a flattened end forming a seat for the spring pressed element for positioning the handle-perpendicular to the frame.

2. A two part handle for a safety razor, having means for connecting one part of the handle to the frame of the razor, one of said parts having a spring receiving cavity, a spring in said cavity, a spherical like head on the end of the other part, seated in the cavity in the other part and having a flat end, and a flanged follower between the spring and the head.

3. A two part handle for a safety razor having two clamping plates between which the blade is clamped, the one part of the handle having a threaded socket at one end for engaging a clamping screw on one of the plates, the other end of said handle part having a cavity therein, a coil spring seated in said cavity, a ball like head having a flattened end on the end of the other handle part seated in the end of the cavity, means for retaining the head in the cavity and "a flanged follower in the cavity having a flat face for engaging the head on the second part of the handle between the spring and head.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Penna, on this 26th day of January, 1926.

OTTO SPAHR. 

